Science exposes the best foods to stimulate male libido and how to block negative hormones from crushing your sex drive.

Was there a time you seemed to always have a throbbing erection? Was it in high school? College?

One hormone can convert to the other and vice versa to find balance.

As men age, their hormonal levels change and there is a natural dip in testosterone, approximately 1% each year starting at age 30 [17]. But this doesn’t mean your libido has to suffer.

Testosterone is the primary hormone that boosts male sex drive. And although nutrients like vitamin D, zinc and BCAAs can improve testosterone, limiting or blocking xeno-estrogen absorption is just as important.

Sex hormones–mainly estrogen and testosterone–work like a seesaw. One hormone can convert to the other and vice versa to find balance. Having some of both is essential.

However, synthetic forms of estrogen (aka xeno-estrogens) have a stronger effect than the natural estrogens the body produces or the estrogens found in foods (aka phyto-estrogens–i.e.,. soy, hops).

Similarly, the FDA cautions the use of synthetic testosterone products due to the possible risk of heart attacks and stroke [21].

This is why blocking xeno-estrogen absorption and eating natural testosterone-boosting foods will help get your libido back up in a healthy and safe way.

Scientific research supports these eight common foods to effortlessly improve male sex drive.

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1. Brussels Sprouts. All cruciferous vegetables, including Brussels sprouts, have healthy phytochemical compounds that block estrogen activities [25]. Not only that, these little nuggets are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

2. Beef. It’s true! Beef can improve testosterone levels and get you excited for sex. For every 6 oz. steak, you get 11 mg of zinc [8]. Zinc is important for hormone regulation but also supports a healthy immune system, fights against oxidative damage, and improves the quality of sperm [18, 19, 24].

Grass-fed beef is also an excellent source of protein, iron and B vitamins.

3. Flax. Flax seeds are a major source of lignin and phyto-estrogens, which significantly reduces effects of xeno-estrogens. Studies have shown that high levels of these dietary lignans are associated with a lower risk of chronic disease and act as powerful anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories [3, 22].

Interestingly, cortisol is a stress hormone with conflicting effects on male and female libido. Preliminary research has shown that women are less sexually aroused with stress, while high cortisol increases male sexual drive [9, 12, 13]. However, despite men having more sexual desire, stress has been found to negatively effect sexual performance [12].

5. Oysters. The folk-tales are true! Oysters are a great aphrodisiac because they are a rich source of zinc, even more than beef. One oyster (3 oz.) contains 74mg of zinc, which is 495% of the recommended daily value [26].

Research explains that zinc deficiency is very common and significantly decreases testosterone levels, even in healthy young men [20]. So, start shucking those oysters to boost your libido.

6. Herring Fish. This tiny fish is jam packed with vitamin D (214 IU per 100g) [8]. Vitamin D deficiency is common in the winter months for people living far from the equator. Vitamin D is a cholesterol-derived steroid hormone that is crucial for bone strength, mental health and balancing testosterone levels [17].

7. Avocado. A diet full of healthy oils and fats can increase testosterone levels and improve sperm quality [7, 10, 11]. Fresh avocados are a great source of healthy fats, mix them with some raw garlic, onions, tomatoes, and lime juice to create a nutrient-packed guacamole snack.

8.Pomegranate. These little antioxidant and anti-cancer seeds pack a lot of punch [5, 16]. Pomegranates are one of the richest zinc-containing fruits, and although they can’t compare to beef or oysters, they have many benefits for prostate health [8].

About Dr. Alison Chen ND

Dr. Alison Chen ND is the co-creator of the Naturopathic Doctor Development Center and winner of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine’s Humanitarian award. Her background in competitive gymnastics, volunteer work in Africa, and an honors degree in biology give her a well-rounded view to living well. Originally from Toronto, Dr. Chen travels the world with her partner. You can learn more at http://www.dralisonchen.com/gmp.

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Great info. Thanks! BTW, all beef is fed grass. Most (95%) is raised on grass pasture for first year or so then finished on a combination of grass and grain. Both grass- and grain-finished are a good (>10%) or excellent (>20%) of the same 10 essential nutrients and vitamins, including zinc, iron, protein, and B vitamins.